Heater



1. McC. SE'LDEN.

HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-12,1918.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- fan 0211461 wwm GHQ: u c u J. McC. SELDEN.

HEATER. I APPLICATION FILED FEB-12,1918- 7 1,352,481 Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 31mm L01) allozncx UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MCCOBB SELDEN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SELDEN COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 14, 192() Application filed February 12, 1918. Serial No. 216,807.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JAMES MoCoBeSnL- DEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of'Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters, of whichthe following is a specification.

The present invention relates more particularly to apparatus for heating air used in certain chemical processes, and the object is to provide simple and effectivemcans whereby air or other oxygen containing gas can be highly heated, its characteristics changed as desired, for example, its oxygen content reduced and the action upon it completely controlled.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through an embodiment of the apparatus that has proven entirely satisfactory for the purpose.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough, and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view looking toward the air and flame inlets.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the structure disclosed, a casing is employed, preferably angular in cross section, and constructed to withstand a high degree of heat. To this end it preferably comprises side walls formed of a lining at of fire brick, an intermediate section of heat in sulating brick, and an outer shell 6 of red brick or corresponding material. These walls are reinforced at the corners by angle irons 7 and intermediate upright braces 8, the whole surrounded by tie rods 9, as clearly shown in F ig. 2. An arched top is employed, comprising a lining 10 of fire brick with an intermediate layer 11 of insulating brick and an outer covering 12 of red brick. The top also is provided with an ingress opening 13 closed by a suitable plug 14. The structure thus produces an internal chamber 15.

' 'The chamber is formed into a tortuous passageway by means of a baffle wall or par tition 16 extending from the bottom 17 0f the chamber and tapering toward its upper end, said upper end terminating short of the top. The front face of this baflie is preferably stepped, as shown at 18, whlle its rear is of considerably livered from any suitable source in predetermined quantity. On opposite sides of the gas inlet are burners each including an air delivery pipe 22 and a gas supply pipe 23. Any well known type of burner may be employed. The burners are disposed parallel with the discharge end 'ofthe gas tube 20, and thus direct flames against the base of the baffle on opposite I sides of the gas supply. The two burners in the particular embodiment shown are of different sizes 01 capacities, and this'produces convenient means for .varying the amount of heat or flame delivered into the chamber. For example, if the smaller of the two is operated alone, a predetermined degree of heat can be produced. If the larger is operat-ed alone, a greater degree of heat is securded, and if the two are operated together, a still higher degree can be obtained. It will be understood that any desired fuel may be utilized as a heatin agent. Suitable peep holes 24 are also preferably employed, the same being located in the wall of the chamber having the burners. These peep holes are'so located that they will give a view of the baffle at the points where the flames impinge against the same. An outlet for the gas and products of combustion is formed in the rear wall of the chamber 21, preferably gas, 7

baffle 16 to the air inlet 20 and gas burners 21. A suitable conduit 26 is provided for carrying the heated gas to the other apparatus utilized in the process, in which said gas is employed.

Briefly described the operation is as follows: 1V etered air, or other oxygen containing gas, is introduced through the conduit 20, as already explained, and the current impinges against the stepped face 18 of the bafiie 16. The flames from the two burners 21 are correspondingly directed against this bafile. The consequenuce is that the air is quickly and highly heated as it passes over the bai'iie with the products of combustion, and finds its escape through the port 23 and conduit 26. It is found that the air can be almost instantly heated to a high temperature, for example, to any temperature desired between 150 and 1000 Q, and that the oxygen content is reduced from 20 per cent. to approximately 14: per cent. This in the processes in which it is employed, for example in certain catalytic oxidation reactions as the oxiuization of naphthalene to phthalic anhydrid, produces a mixture which will not readily explode. In addition, where it is desired to pass the heated through substances which are being vaporized or sublimed, the lowered oxygen content of the air brought about by the products of the combustion thus increasing richness of the gas, in inert gas, in carbon dioxid, water vapor and nitrogen, is an advantage for the reason that the oxidation power of the is reduced and results in less destruction of material vaporized or sublimed.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it wiil be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from. the spirit or sacrificing any of he advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described n y invention, what I claim as new, and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a casing, of means for introducing an oxygen containing gas to the casing, outlet means for conducting the gasfrom said casing, means forming a tortuous passageway between the inlet and outlet, and means for projecting a flame into the casing to heat the gas passing therethrough between the introducing and outlet means to reduce its oxygen content.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a casing providing an inclosed chamber, of means for introducing an oxygen containing gas to one portion of the chamber, outlet means for conducting the gas from another portion of said chamber, a baflie wall interposed between the inlet and outlet, and means for projecting a flame against the bafile wall in the general dlrection of the flow of the gas therethrough. I

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a casing providing an inclosed chamber, of a battle in said chamber, means for directing air against one face of the battle, and means for simultaneously projecting a flame against said baiiie to heat said air.

4:. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a casing providing an inclosed chamber, of a bafile in said chamber, means for directing air into the chamher on one side of the baflie, and means for directing flames against said side of the baiiie on opposite sides of the air directing means.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a casing providing an inclosed chamber, of a baflie partition extending across the chamber and having one stepped side face, means for introducing air into the chamber on the side of the bafiie partition having the stepped face, means for carrying off the air from the chamber 011 the opposite side of the baflie partition, and means located on opposite sides of the air introducing means for directin flames against the stepped face of the baffle partition.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a casing, of means for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the casing, outlet means for conducting the gas from said casing, and burners of different capacities for projecting flames into the casing.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MGCOBB SELDEN.

VVM. K. LANGFITT, J. M. SELDEN, JR. 

